I hear a small noise in the distance…it could have been a footstep or the sound of someone clearing their throat. Whatever the source, I concentrate harder, trying to hear it again. The fine hairs on my neck and arms stand straight and high; I can almost feel the nervous electricity bouncing from strand to strand, sending little shocks of fear through my cold body. I hold the crowbar close to my chest. I can’t hear anything over the terrified gallop of my own heart. I struggle to control my breathing, but I can’t relax. I take a few deep breaths and scan the woods to make sure I’m still alone.
As far as I can tell, I am.
Get a grip, Chloe. You’re just freaking yourself out.
I release a long, steady breath.
Everything is fine.
A low growl works its way through the frozen trees and my breath quickens. I search the woods again; shadows dance around the trunks of the trees as the late-afternoon sun slips lower in the sky. I can’t tell how far away the Rev is, nor from what direction it approaches, but the familiar snarl is growing louder, so it must be getting closer.
I don’t know what to do.
I could make a run for it…head back toward camp…but my tent would offer little to no protection if the Rev followed me. I could hide in the outhouse, but if there’s more than one Rev, they could easily break through the dilapidated wood of the old structure. My only other option is to hide in the woods, which isn’t ideal, but maybe the trees and shadows will camouflage me until the danger passes.
I back away from the trash pile, moving slowly, trying to be as quite as possible until a large tree blocks me from going any farther. I press my back against the tree and look around. I still can’t see the Rev, but I hear it and I can smell the strong scent of rot and dirt. I cover my nose and mouth with the handkerchief I keep tied around my neck so I don’t gag or cough or do anything else that might give away my position.
I peek around the tree to my right…nothing. I swallow, relieved. Maybe the Rev is walking parallel to me and it’ll just keep on walking, oblivious to the free meal hiding behind this tree. Maybe I lucked out. Maybe I won’t have to fight my way out of these woods after all.
I turn to peek around the left side of the tree.
The Rev lunges for me, burying its rotting fingers into my hair. The sudden attack startles me and I lose my grip on the crowbar; it falls to the ground with a hollow thud. I jerk backward, trying to free myself without getting scratched or bit in the process. I cry out in pain as a fistful of hair detaches from my scalp, but I don’t have time to hurt, I have to run. I stumble as a black and grey starburst creates a vignette effect around the edge of my vision. The only thought racing through my mind is don’t pass out, don’t pass out!
The rustle of dead leaves lets me know the Rev is just behind me. I run until I reach a tree with low hanging branches, and jump onto the lowest one, climbing higher and higher until I’m out of reach. I watch in horror as the Rev below is joined by another, then another, until the tree looks like it’s been planted in human remains. The hungry mob pushes and shoves against the trunk of the tree, trying to pluck me from its branches. I tighten my grip as the tree yields under their collective weight.
What if they manage to uproot the tree?
I start laughing; a high-pitched, hysterical laugh that scares me nearly as bad as the sight below. I’m trapped, and it looks like more than a hundred Revs have congregated at the base of the tree, hoping I fall into their open mouths. Finally, my laughter perishes beneath the weight of my present circumstances.
I’m going to die.
There’s nothing left to do but prepare my soul for the next leg of its journey and pray for a swift death. I close my eyes and let the words “Lord, heavenly father, forgive me of my sins” thunder through my head like a midnight train. Frightened tears stain my cheeks.
I’m going to die.
There’s no if, only when. Maybe fifteen minutes, maybe two hours...but either way, the outcome will be the same.
“Forgive my unbelief,” I say, praying out loud.
The Revs shove harder against the tree.
“Accept me into your kingdom this day.”
I choke on a thick sob. When you’re growing up, no one teaches you how to die. It’s not a skill you learn somewhere between tying your shoes and cooking spaghetti-o’s in the microwave. No one tells you to do this or that during your final moments…and how could they? It’s not an experience that can be passed down through generations, so I don’t know what to do or what to expect.
Will it hurt?
Will I remember it?
Will I feel it?
“Lord please. Please help me.”
I haven’t prayed in several weeks…not even an elementary “God is great, God is good” at dinner. I’ve barely looked at the small Bible Erek gave me, let alone read from its thin pages. I’ve just been existing...trying to make the best of an increasingly futile situation…but in doing that I forgot about everything else that makes life worth living.
Like having faith in things unseen.
Although what’s unseen doesn’t seem to be coming to my rescue now.
I open my eyes and peer at the ground below. The number of Revs gathered around the old tree seems to have doubled during the few minutes I prayed. I take a few deep breaths, trying to calm my anxiety, but it’s so heavy I fear I might snap under the weight.
I squeeze my eyes shut.
I hope it’s quick.
A large crack of thunder startles me and I nearly fall. The branch is slippery from days of rain; I hold onto it tighter, fighting to keep my balance as a biting wind tears through the forest and sinks its teeth into my skin. I’m shaking, but I’m not sure if it’s from the wind or my fear. My teeth chatter and my bare fingers are painfully stiff. My legs feel like jelly. I’m slipping. This is it. I’m going to fall…down, down, down...right into the open mouths of the Revs below.
Just like they wanted.
Threatening clouds darken the sky, plunging the forest into a premature night; a flash of white lightning splits the darkness. A second peal of thunder rolls across the sky. The storm is getting closer. I lower myself into a sitting position on the branch, too exhausted to stand any longer.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me,” I whisper.
It’s the only part of the well-known Psalm I can recite from memory, so I just repeat it again and again like it contains the words to a magic spell. The lightning and thunder continue their relentless attack until a sharp crack of lightning strikes the tree directly across from the one I’m hiding in. It’s so loud and unexpected, I fall off the branch. The unforgiving ground breaks my fall; I’m too stunned to move, and I feel like someone hit me in the back of the head with a baseball bat.
The stench of death grows more pronounced.
I turn my head to the side, trying to determine where the Revs are and why they haven’t attacked me yet. Slowly, I lift myself from the forest floor and look around. I can’t believe it. Row after row of Revs litter the ground, as lifeless as they should have been the first time they died. Not even one remains. I step over the Revs and limp back to my tent and crawl inside. I spend the rest of the night alone…like the night before…but I’m alive, so I’ll take it.
“And the Lord heard my cry,” I whisper.
Chapter Three
Chloe
I crawl out of the tent the next morning, stiff from another night of frosty temperatures. I'm not sure how low it got last night, but judging from the dull ache in my hips and elbows, I would guess somewhere in the low 30's. My mom used to joke that she could predict the weather by how her joints felt...cold weather and rain always brought with them a myriad of aches and pains.
Apparently, I inherited her gift of weather forecasting.
I spend a few minutes stretching, working the kinks out of my back and legs. Some days I miss the comforts of my old life more than others, like the
king-sized mattress I used to sleep on, and my thick, goose-down blanket. Man, what I wouldn't give to be able to lay in my old bed one more time, wrapped in a warm blanket. Heck, I’d settle for just one night of not fearing being eaten alive.
Like last night.
A shiver works its way through my bones as I think about the close call with the Revs. I nearly died. And not figuratively...no, I literally almost met my end. But I’m alive. I hope the same is true for Daniel, Erek and Wayne. I look around. Nothing is stirring in the camp. I rub my arms, trying to create friction to warm myself. I don't know if I'm cold because of the weather, or the dread settling low in my heart. It could very well be a little of both. The guys didn’t come home last night; they're officially off-schedule. And in a world filled with Revs, people who don't come back on time are usually wounded or dead.
I can't help but fear the worst.
I reach into my jacket and pull out the tiny black Bible. I slept with it in my pocket last night like it was a shield, and maybe it was. I certainly felt more secure with it nearby. I open it, not looking for anything in particular. Psalm 77 looks up at me from the pages: My cry goes to God! Indeed, I cry to God for help, and for him to listen to me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord. My hand was stretched out in the night, and didn't get tired. My soul refused to be comforted. I remember God, and I groan. I complain, and my spirit is overwhelmed.
In the day of my trouble, I sought the Lord. Yet how many times have I shied away from Him? I take a deep breath, then release it slowly. I feel guilty; like a child who, in the throes of a tantrum, told her parents she hated them. I feel like I don't even have the right to read the words printed on the small pages, let alone repeat them, but I must try...for Daniel's sake. And Wayne’s. And Erek’s too, even if he acts like he hates me. They could be injured, or worse. Plus, I'm alone, with no one to talk to, so it might be nice to hear a voice...even if it is just my own.
I fold my hands in front of me and bow my head. Old habits.
"Heavenly Father," I begin awkwardly. My voice cracks. I haven't spoken in hours. I clear my throat, then begin again. "Um, thank you…again…for last night. If that was you. I'm sorry I said I didn't believe. I...I hope you understand." This feels silly, but I force myself to continue. "If you're listening, please bring Daniel, Erek and Wayne back. Safely. I need them. I can't do this alone." I pause before adding, "I need you to be real, Lord. Please be real."
Almost instantly, I hear the familiar rumble of the truck's engine coming up the road. I can't believe it. I don’t trust the timing enough to attribute it to answered prayer. It's just a coincidence, surely. The box truck pulls up, and the guys climb out; they seem impatient, but otherwise unscathed. I run to Daniel and pull him into a tight hug. I'm so thankful he's back safe, and in one piece. Wayne and Erek, too.
I'm never letting them out of my sight again.
"Are you okay?" Daniel asks. He holds me at arms-length and checks me for any obvious wounds. “I am so sorry, Chloe. Are you hurt? Anywhere?”
His brow furrows, and his lips flatten into a thin line. I know my brother well; he’s mentally berating himself for leaving me alone at camp.
Good.
"What took you so long?" I ask, not trusting myself to say anything else.
He runs a hand through his hair. "We ran into a problem coming out of Eden. It wasn't safe to come bac...” He stops when he notices the tears I’m struggling to hold back. “What? What's wrong?"
My lip trembles despite my best efforts. "Nothing. I…I was just worried. I didn't think you were coming back." No sooner have the words left my mouth, the tears I’ve been fighting begin streaming down my face. I didn't realize how scared I was...how scared I still am. I was so afraid I would be alone. Forever.
Daniel pulls me to his chest and holds me tightly. "It's okay, sis. We're okay."
I try to wipe my face before Wayne and Erek notice the flood of emotion, but it's too late.
Wayne pulls out a cigarette and lights it. "Looks like you're stuck with us a little longer, Chloe," he says, giving me an awkward pat on the back before heading toward the back of the truck.
Erek acknowledges me with a curt nod, then turns to follow Wayne. Disappointment worms its way into my heart. I was so relieved to see Erek. I guess I was hoping for a similar reaction from him.
I wipe the last of my tears away.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Daniel asks.
I nod. “I’m sure. I had a close call with a group of Revs, but…”
“How many Revs?” he asks. “Was it a large group?”
“How did you know?” I ask. He pales but doesn’t respond so I shrug and say, “I’ll have to show you later. It’s a crazy story.” I shake my head in disbelief. “I still don’t fully believe it myself.”
“Okay,” he replies evenly.
"It was a long two days, to say the least," I say. The memory of the sea of Revs standing beneath the tree with their rotten teeth bared and jaws snapping is too recent not to feel terrifying and raw. I’m just glad it’s over.
Daniel plants a quick kiss on my forehead and releases me. "You're telling me. Gonna be longer still," he says, and turns to walk toward the truck.
I linger behind, wondering what he meant. Have our plans changed? An icy dread tickles my spine. I probably don't want to know. If Daniel thinks it's going to be difficult, I'm not going to like it. I catch Erek watching me. He diverts his gaze when he realizes I've spotted him, and whatever expression was there is immediately replaced with his usual indifference. I feel so incredibly foolish. Foolish for falling in love in the middle of the Apocalypse, and foolish for worrying about a man who doesn't want me. But…I remember a time, not so long ago, when I believed I saw something peering out at me from behind those dark grey eyes. Will I ever see it again? Was it ever there? Trying to answer those questions is about as impossible as finding a cure for the disease ravaging the world. I remind myself, not for the first time, and likely not the last, that it doesn't make sense to worry about the future.
Especially when my future is measured only by my ability to avoid getting hurt, sick, or bit.
* * *
Daniel
She's safe.
Thank God, or luck, or whatever made it so.
That was stupid. So incredibly stupid. I should never have agreed to leave her behind. Not alone, anyway. I won’t allow Erek to talk me into something so foolish again; after all, best laid plans seldom work out the way you intend. I put my sister in danger, and nearly got killed myself, with nothing to show for it but frayed nerves and stomach ulcers. But, we’re all okay, and I count myself fortunate to have received a second chance in a world where do-overs are rare.
My anxiety abates, albeit slowly.
Good.
I deserve to wrestle with the panic a little longer. I deserve that, and much more, for leaving Chloe alone and defenseless. This world doesn’t care about good intentions or lessons learned the hard way; it doesn’t take it easy on you just because you want to prove a point to a hard-headed little sister. This world doesn’t give…it takes. I should have known better. I do know better; but I agreed to Erek’s plan anyway, because I thought it would help more than hurt.
Then the plan went sideways.
We had just left Eden. The truck was full of supplies, and we were on schedule. Then we hit a roadblock. Only this time, the roadblock wasn't other cars. This time, the roadblock was a wall of Revs standing shoulder to shoulder, stretched out across the road like a spike strip. There was no way we could barrel through them, not even in the large box truck. There were too many, packed too deep. We would have gotten bogged down after hitting the first two rows.
So, we turned around.
By the time we arrived back in Eden, it was nearing dusk, and my heart felt like it might burst from my chest. All I could think about was Chloe, back at camp, alone, with no one there to protect her. What if that herd of Revs, or even a fraction of them, turned and head
ed in her direction? I was nearly hysterical with worry the entire time we were holed up in Eden.
But it's okay, I remind myself. She's okay.
Erek approaches me. I try to walk past him, but he grabs my arm, forcing me to stop. “Look man, I’m sorry. I didn’t know we’d be delayed,” he says quietly. “But, I’m not sorry we did it.”
I look at him, angry. “Yeah, well it wasn’t your sister who almost died, was it?”
“Come on, Daniel. You know I’d never put her in danger.”
“You keep saying that, but you did put her in danger, Erek! We put her in danger,” I say, matching his whisper. I rub my face, frustrated. “Both of you are so intent on proving the other one wrong that someone is going to get killed. This isn’t a game.”
No,” he agrees, “it’s not. I just keep waiting on y’all to realize it.”
He turns and raises the door of the box truck. I know Erek means well. He thinks he’s showing Chloe that separating the group is foolhardy and dangerous…demonstrating the small odds of surviving a search and rescue mission in Asheville…but what good does it do any of us if she dies?
But, she’s not dead.
Now I need to show her what we found in Eden.
Chapter Four
Chloe
"People?"
I'm confused. I expected to see a truck filled with food and supplies...and it is...but it also contains a family of four. A man and woman are perched on two large hay bales; an adolescent girl and young boy are sitting on their laps because there’s no other free space in the truck.
Daniel extends his hand to the girl, helping her step down from the back of the truck. "This is Kate and her brother, Jax. And these two," he says, gesturing toward the man and woman, "are Landon and his wife, Emily."
Revenants Series (Book 2): Remnants Page 2
